Birla Temple

History

The Lakshmi Narayan Temple is one of the popular temples and landmarks in Delhi. The temple was built in 1938 by B.D. Birla, one of the famous business tycoons of India and inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi (Father of the Nation). At that time, Mahatma Gandhi kept a condition that people of all castes especially the untouchables will be allowed entry into the temple. Hence this temple welcomes all without discrimination of any sort. Being built by the Birla family, the temple is also known as the Birla Temple.

Birla Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the second of the Hindu Trinity of creator-preserver-destroyer, and his consort Lakshmi, the Goddess of wealth. Significant idols of Goddess Durga, Lord Shiva, Lord Ganesha, Lord Rama and Lord Hanuman also preside in the temple.

The architecture of the temple seems to be inspired from the Orissa style. The temple has tall curved towers, the highest tower reaching a height of 165 feet while the auxiliary towers reach 116 feet. The exterior is faced with white marble and red sandstone while the interior is overlooked by two-storey verandahs on three sides and gardens and fountains at the rear. The plethora of sculptures, idols, tall spires and Jali work make Birla Mandir incredible to behold.

The Geeta Bhawan in the Birla Temple is an exhibition hall cum shrine, dedicated to Lord Krishna. The entire hall is embellished with paintings depicting scenes from Indian Mythology. There is another temple within the complex housing Lord Buddha. The walls and the upper gallery reflect the rich cultural heritage of the Rajasthani paintings.

The Birla Temple is a landmark in the history of modern Indian architecture. One must not miss this site while on a tour to Delhi.

Best time to visit

Though the Birla Temple can be visited anytime of the year, the best time would be during the winter months between October and March as the weather at this time is quite pleasant. Summers in Delhi can be hot with temperatures rising up to 45 degrees while the temperatures dropping down to 5 degrees in winters.

Trivia

Interestingly, a wall in the Birla Mandir has an inscription that reads that on 27 May 1942 a man called Krishna Pal Sharma turned few grams of mercury into gold, which was witnessed by many.

Janmashtami (birthday of Lord Krishna) is celebrated with full zest and fervor in the Birla Temple each year. Being famous for its celebration of the Hindu deity Krishna, hordes of devotees comes to visit this temple of spiritual legacy.

Timing

Devotees can pay their reverence to the deities from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. Please note that photography is not allowed in the prayer hall.